Portulaca Creates Blooming Groundcover

ROBERT HAEHLE GARDEN COLUMNIST

May 1, 2009|ROBERT HAEHLE GARDEN COLUMNIST

Do you know anything about rose moss or moss rose? It makes a great groundcover in Illinois with good flowers and covering ability. I think it would be a great choice for South Florida but can't find seed or plants. What do you know about this plant? - T.J. Brackney, Plantation

Moss rose is also known as portulaca, an annual, and purslane, a short-term perennial. Both have great blooms and are succulent groundcover. They do well here during the dry season with little or no irrigation. The wet season can do them in because of our poor drainage and fungal problems. They are good choices for full sun, dry locations with sharp drainage. Plants used on a mound tend to survive better than on level ground. Plants are best installed after mid-October and usually fade away by May. Purslane may last two years or more if located on a mound without irrigation in the sun. You can find them at Jesse Durko's Nursery in Davie, 954-792-2297.

Can you give me information on where I can buy Neem oil to repel lizards? What is the product derived from? - Wayne Kepple, Lake Worth

Neem oil serves as a repellent and fungicide on various plants. The oil is from the neem tree, which is a well known insect repellent. Orchid growers have reported success using neem oil around their orchids to keep iguanas away from the flowers. Garden Gate at Sears in Pompano Beach, 954-783-4283, and Abell's Nursery in Lake Worth, 561-969-1138 carry neem oil. They can order the product for you if they are temporarily out of stock.

Our homeowners association had three Medjool date palms that died after 17 years. The first tree died about 18 months ago followed by the other two. We had the soil and trees tested and all was fine. We were told the last two trees were hit by lightning, but no other plants were damaged. We would like to replace the palms with the Phoenix sylvestris , but are concerned about another lightning strike. How can we determine if it is safe to replace these trees? - Susan Dobson, Parkland

Lightning damage usually kills surrounding plants. The palm would have exit weeping holes around the base of the trunk. I suspect your trees died from Ganoderma butt rot. Do not use palms in this area. Use small narrow growing trees with lower limbs removed for visibility. Consider trees such as Spanish stopper, Jamaican caper or Jamaican rain tree. You cannot use big trees in an entry island because there is usually not enough room to accommodate their growth.